I have many students who find no use for math. I have tried showing them
real-life applications of many topics, but very few consider my examples
worthwhile.
Find the area of a room to put in flooring is brushed off because, "I can
just get someone to install it for me." Figuring out the discount on a
purchase, "The cash register will figure it out, and if I don't have enough,
I will tell them to put it on the shelf." Being able to effectively estimate
or even perform one and two digit arithmetic in your head, "I have a
calculator."
Everything has an easy answer back, "I don't need math." If basic arithmetic
is believed to be pointless, how is one supposed to teach graphing, algebra,
or any other concept?